We live in the age of converged media—the written word, audio, video and the web all appear on small devices we carry around in pockets and purses.

It’s magic! Or at least it seems like magic when we access thoughts, words and images from everywhere almost anywhere.

That’s just one of the reasons all of us at BahaiTeachings.org are so excited to announce the launch of Cloud9, our new converged media service.

Cloud9 is a new series of original podcasts hosted by our Arts Editor Shadi Toloui-Wallace, initially focused on the arts and how they impact our world.

In the podcasts hosted by Shadi, BahaiTeachings.org will delve into the lives of artists, activists and fascinating creative people from around the world, to learn what inspires, uplifts and motivates them to make positive contributions to humanity.

Listen to the first episode of Cloud 9 below:

The Baha’i writings exalt the intentions of those artists—and even elevate art made from the fullness of the human heart to the status of worship:

In the Baha’i Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. – Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 176-177.

Baha’is believe that the artists and craftsmen of the world don’t simply create beauty—Baha’u’llah said that “they advance the affairs of mankind:”

The purpose of learning should be the promotion of the welfare of the people, and this can be achieved through crafts. It hath been revealed and is now repeated that the true worth of artists and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind. Just as the foundations of religion are made firm through the Law of God, the means of livelihood depend upon those who are engaged in arts and crafts. True learning is that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not to pride and self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and pillage. – Baha’u’llah, from a tablet to an individual Baha’i.

We humbly invite you to subscribe to our new BahaiTeachings.org podcast service. Just click here to sign up, and join us as we explore the divine art of living.